Envelope



H. N. WILL May 8, 1934.

ENVELOPE Original Filed Aug. 51, 1932 Inventor UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENVELOPE Harold N. Will, Kettle Falls, Wash.

Continuation of application Serial No. 631,290, August 31, 1932. This application November 10, 1933, Serial No. 697,431

3 Claims. (Cl. 22986) 7 This invention relates to an improved combinaterial 2, 3 indicates the cutting member which tion envelope and opener, and particularly to extends along the fold line 4 formed between the actuating means for the opener, and consists in envelope body 5 and the flap 6. The cutting memthe novel design, combination, and arrangement her 3 which is preferably a fine thread of silk,

5 of parts hereinafter more fully disclosed. cotton or wire is glued or otherwise fastened 0 An object of this invention is to provide a along the full length of the fold line 4 or along simple, convenient, and effective means of openthe extreme lower portion of the fold line 4 as ing sealed envelopes with an opening means comindicated at 7. The other end of the cutting prising a cutting member secured in one of the member extends outside of the fold formed by folds of the envelope and attached at one end to a flap 6 and is fastened by glue, gum, or other 65 detachable portion of the envelope flap, said deadhesive means between an operating member 8 tachable portion forming a means by which the and an ear 9, the ear 9 is a folding member of cutting member may be actuated to open the enoperating member 8, the juncture line between velope along one of the lines of fold. the two being indicated at 10. Both the operat- A further object of the invention is to provide ing member 8 and the folding ear 9 are formed 70 as a part of an envelope an operating means for as a part of the envelope closure flap 1 and they the cutting member that will be noticeable and are weakened therefrom and made detachable easily distinguishable from the other parts of the by perforations 11 which also weakens them from envelope. the envelope body 5 along the fold line 12.

A further object of the invention is to provide When the ear 9 is folded over and sealed to the 75 in an envelope having a self contained opener operating member 8 as in Figure 2 it will coman operating means therefor, the purpose of pletely cover the end of the cutting member 3 which may be readily understood by persons not and also cover up all sealing material'on these accustomed to envelopes equipped with openers. parts; this makes the envelope much neater in A further object of the invention is to provide appearance and also prevents said operating a paper ear which is formed as a part of that part member from sticking to other parts of the enof the envelope flap designated as the operating velope. It also makes possible the use of the member, the purpose of which is to cover and same kind of sealing material on said operating more securely fasten the end of the cutting member and said ear as is used on the envelope 30 member to said operating member. closure flap 1. 85

A further object of the invention is to provide An envelope lining 13 may be used in the an envelope with self contained opening means envelope as shown in Figure 1. that will have sufficient novelty and good appear- It will be noted that when the envelope is ance to be appropriate for high grade stationery folded as in Figure 3, the operating member 8 as well as for business use. in no way changes the general shape or form of 90 I attain these and other objects by the invena standard envelope flap, and that it'presents an tion illustrated in the accompanying drawing in easily detachable means for actuating the outh ting member 3.

Figure 1 is a rear view of an envelope with the It will also be noted in Figure 3 that the 40 closure flap in an open position and showing a operating member 8 has an arrow 14 stamped 95 cut open section with the cutting member exthereon indicating the direction that said opposed. erating member should be pulled off along the Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of one of perforated line 11. The arrow 14 should be the upper corners of the envelope showing the formed as an elevated portion of the paper. It

5 ear folded and sealed over the end of the cutting may be of any suitable color. The exposed por- 100 member. tions of the operating member 8 and the ear 9 Figure 3 is a rear view of the envelope with the are colored, gilded, shaded or otherwise given a flaps in a closed position and showing an outvalue, tint or hue so as to present an operating side view of the operating member. means that will be noticeable and particularly Figure 4. is an elevation of the front of the set forth in superficial appearance from the rest 05 envelope showing the operation of opening. of the envelope which is preferably uncolored I have shown a common form of letter envelope or lightly tinted. with my invention applied thereto, and referring Now it is evident that any one receiving a to the drawing, 1 indicates the envelope closure sealed envelope embodying this invention will flap which is provided with gummed sealing maupon noticing the operating member 8 be guided 11 to pull it in the direction indicated thereon, and in so doing will pull the cutting member 3 away from the end of the envelope as indicated in Figure 4. The operation of pulling said operating member away from the end of the envelope will cause said cutting member to neatly cut open the envelope along the fold line 4.

It should be mentioned that while it is considered preferable to have the ear 9 made as a part of the envelope a member made separately could also be used without departing from the invention.

While I have herein shown and described my invention as applied to opening the right hand end of a sealed letter envelope, I do not wish to be limited thereby except for such limitations as my claims may import.

I claim:

1. In combination, an envelope having a closure flap and several inturned flaps, the closure flap having near its fold an ear to be folded against a detachable portion of said closure flap, and a thread having one end fastened beneath the ear of the closure flap of said envelope and running along and fastened within the fold of one of said inturned flaps.

2. An envelope having in combination, a front, several ordinary flaps formed from the same sheet of paper as said front and folded over to make the back of the envelope, a closable flap also from the same sheet of paper, an ear forming a projection from said closable flap, perforations in said closable flap following the edge of said ear when it is folded against said closable flap, and a thread having one end fastened beneath said ear. running along and fastened within the fold of one of said ordinary flaps.

3. An envelope having in combination, a front, several ordinary flaps formed from the same sheet of paper as said front and folded over to make the back of the envelope, 9. closable flap also from the same sheet of paper, an ear forming a projection from said closable flap, perforations in said closable flap following the edge of said ear when it is folded against said closable flap, a thread having one end fastened beneath said ear, running along and fastened within the fold of one of said ordinary flaps, an indicating arrow stamped on the outside of the detachable portion of the closure flap formed by said perforations, and coloring material deposited on the exposed portions of said ear and said detachable portion of the envelope closure flap.

HAROLD N. WILL. 

